St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-17
LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE.
The Schooner Parallel Wrecked on the
Rocks Near the Golden Gate,
San Francisco.
A Terrific Explosion on Board, Which
Does Much Damage to Property
on Shore.
The Cliff House and Other Buildings
Wreck ked--Several Persons
Seriously Injured.
A Train Wrecked on a Massachusetts
Railway, But no Personi is
Fatally Hurt.

Fatally Hurt.
SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 16-At midnight
last night the Merchants exchange received
a telephone message from Point Laboo sig
nal station that the schooner Parallel had
been driven on the rocks near Golden Gate,
and probably would prove total loss. An
hour later another message was received
that an immense, quantity of giant powder
aboard the schooner had blown up, destroy
ing the Cliff house and the buildings OH the
shore in the neighborhood. Reporters and
police officers were burredly dispatched to
the scene of the disaster, and the following
particulars were obtained: The Parallel
sailed Friday last with a cargo of general
merchandise for Astoria, Or. She pro-
ceeded north until compelled by strong
headwinds to return. She reached the en-
trance to Golden Gate yesterday evening.
The wind had died out, and being caught
by strong tide the vessel was
swept ashore at the south end Of Point
LeboS inside the famous seal rocks, oppo-
site the Cliff house.
THE LIFE-SAVING STATION
near by was promptly notified and hastened
to the scene of the wreck. The captain
and all hands aboard had taken to the boats,
but as it was impossible for them to make
a landing on the heavy surf then running,
they stood away for an entrance to the har-
b0r After being abandoned the vessel
drifted south into small cove, where she
pounded against the rocks, and at midnight
was rapidly breaking up. 1t was known
that she had a large quantity of powder
aboard, but no danger was apprehended.
The men from the life-Saying station. see
ing that nothing could be done and know
ing the schooner had been abandoned by
her officers and crew, withdrew at few
minutes before l o'clock from the scene
They had hardly reached the station build
ing when fearful explosion occurred,
scattering destruction on all sides. The
schooner in beating against the rocks had
caused the powder 10 ignite, and the entire
quantity aboard, nearly 100, 600 pounds, had
exploded. To those living in the neighbor-
hood the effect was frightful. The signal
station was completely demolished. The
life-saving station was also wrecked and
the west side of the Cliff house, notwith-
standing its elevation, was
BLOWN DOWN,
and every window frame in the building
broken. A large concert room on the beach
and other buildings lower down had all
their windows broken and otherwise more
or less damaged. The long carriage shed
adjoining the Cliff house was tumbled into
a mass of ruins. Adolph Sutro's conserva-
tory on the heights above was shattered to
atoms and all the windows in his house
broken. Three members of the life-saving
crew, who built the fire on the beach and
decided to remain near the wreck, were
hurled in the air by the conclusion and Sc
verely injured i'll being again dashed to the
earth. The remaining members of the
crew, who had returned to the station,
rushed to the rescue of the injured men, as
it was feared their proximity IL the eXpio-
sion must have resulted to their injury.
They carried them to the station,
where medical attention was summoned.
and everything necessary to relieve their
injuries was done. One of them, Horace
Smith. had his limbs so frightfully dis
jointed as to make his sufferings intense
For time his life was despaired of. Capt
HayslOp, in command of the lfe-saving
station, describes the explosion as follows:
At o'clock sleepers were thrown from
their beds by the great explosion. which
made them think that a great earthquake
had upheaved the cliff or tidal wave
swept up from the Pacific.
\ GREAT WAVE
dashed up and vaulted over the Cliff house
building. The whole shore and cliff liter
ally trembled and shook as no earthquake
has shaken the earth for years. The people
were rudely thrown from their beds by the
force Of the explosion. The furniture and
beds were tossed and heaped about the
room. The famous Cliff house presents
scene beyond description. The west side
of the building overlooking the ocean is
completely ruined ard is only held together
by the cross beams. Windows are smashed
and doors twisted off their hinges and left
in such a shattered condition that it will
have to be taken down.
THE CREW SAFE.
AS nothing had been seen or heard of the
captain and crew of the steamer I'D to day-
light fears were entertained as to their
safety. These, however, were dispelled on
their arrival this morning on the ferry boat
from Sancelito. On their taking to the
small boat the tide was so strong that they
were carried to SancelitO before they could
make landing. The captain could not be
seen, but Peter Hansen, one of the seamen,
made the following statement:
When the captain realized the danger of his
position he cast anchor, but it would not hold.
The schooner struck and knowing the dan
gerouS character of the cargo, he ordered out
the boat and we all left the vessel, as it was
impossible to make the landing through the
surf. This captain ordered the boat headed
for the Golden Gate and the tide carried us to
Sancelito. The powder was shipped by Band
mann, Nelson & Co., of this city, and was in
tended for railroad construction purposes
The vessel was literally Obliterated Il few
pieces of floating wreckage being all that can
be seen. She was valued at 81, 600 and owned
by B. 3 Peterson, of this city, AMI insured
for 800.
THE EXPLOSION
was so terrific and occurring so close to the
seal rocks, it was supposed that all inl-
mense number of seals would be killed BY
the conclusion. Such proves, however,
not to be the case. Two dead ones only
have been seen. 4 rumor is current that
the explosion was caused by an Internal
machine aboard, but all the facts are con-
trary to such supposition. The explo-
sion was distinctly heard at Oakland, San
Jose, and even as far as Sacramento. a
distance of over 100 miles. Capt. Jordan,
of the ship Commodore, which arrived to-
day from Discovery, says that they felt the
shock fifteen miles out at sea. The in
jured life-saving men are progressing favor
ably and will probably recover.
A PECULIAR ACCKDENT.
Great Shaking UP of n Railway